Keith Urban - One Foot in L.A. ... And One in Nashville

Jimmy Carter in his homebase Nashville.

Don't forget "American Idol" just yet. It's not dead. Keith Urban will be back in the judge's chair. He was classy in the last ill-fated season. He was never fired and didn't quit the show, so he is back. His new CD comes out shortly and is called FUSE. Keith did a good job before and he will again. Keith Urban is an asset on any team that lands him!

Note: the new stage and lighting for this tour is over-the-top. Must-see!

Keith and Blake the TV stars. Two very different men, both getting major career pushes from the cool heat of television. Carrie Underwood, on the ladies side, is about to catch up and pass those boys. Sunday Night Football is the highest-rated show of the week normally. Add the Sound of Music, CMA co-hosting and the usual promotional guest shots, the blond from the little town in Oklahoma is about to be the go-to girl again.

Three major national celebrities, thanks to TV. So what's next? I don't see much on the crystal ball after those three.

Musically, Cruise broke all the records but there really isn't a Garth-like act around right now. Taylor is still around in the stratosphere cashing in at the local stadiums and amphi's around the world. But she is so famous at this point, she makes her own waves when she wants to. She is due for a movie surprise or something to shock the citizenry.

Her tour will be the biggest for 2013. Others did well, but not hanging at her level.

The next level of pure radio-driven star power is as strong a bunch as we have seen in some time. Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan are both having sensational years. Hit songs, big venues. Add Miranda to this bunch and Eric Church.

The heat factor ... headliner factor for those four on scream.

The workhorses keep running despite the flavors of the month. Toby Keith and Brad Paisley, and the resurgent Tim McGraw in this trio. Three no-risk. Big hit/great show performers who have something rare in Country music these days ... longevity.

For the most part, do you ever hear Garth on most Country Radio stations? Ronnie Milsap or even the biggest early hits of George Strait? Not really. Country remains very 1970s Top 40 Radio in most every way. The artists in the top 15 touring acts are smoking. Fired up. I question -- is the presenter fired up as much? Passion. Can you create passion on a radio station when most of its hours are voicetracked?

The jukebox music machine is about to come into the cars and trucks of the country. Pandora coming to your car. The real jukebox. How will radio on a local level battle iHeartradio if it's an app in your car? That's going to be the day LOCAL radio may make its less-than-ceremonious return. Corporate has cut the jobs and automated. Cut the passion and made McDonalds radio. Now what? Technology is not standing still. The CAR is no longer radio's castle ... but its last stand. Somebody better put something for the fans to listen to beside the music they can get WITHOUT commercials elsewhere ... better out on a SHOW! Hmmm...

Kidd Kraddick got it ... so did his fans. He played the hits and did a SHOW!